2026 Best Value Animal Science Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Animal Science certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 162 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Animal Science Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
South Dakota State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical Animal Science student debt is $23,162. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. That is a strong return on a $23,162 median debt. South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. See the full South Dakota State University profile
Kansas State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Animal Science ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,757 in student loans. Kansas State University alumni report median earnings of $57,262 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,757 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted. See the full Kansas State University profile
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #3 on this year's best-value Animal Science ranking in the United States. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $19,687 to complete their Animal Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,827. Set against $19,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield has an acceptance rate of 90%. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
Out of the 162 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $22,689 to complete their Animal Science program here. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. Set against $22,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
You'll get strong value at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. The median Animal Science program debt is $23,551. University Of Arkansas alumni report median earnings of $58,191 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,551 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Unity College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full Unity College report
University Of North Georgia landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of North Georgia report
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo profile
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Maryland College Park profile
Utah State University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Utah State University
Wayne Community College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. See the full Wayne Community College profile
University Of Vermont came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Vermont profile
Buena Vista University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Buena Vista University report
University Of Wyoming offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
College Of Southern Idaho landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. More on College Of Southern Idaho
Sheridan College
Sheridan College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Sheridan College
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read more about Colorado Northwestern Community College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Tennessee Technological University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. See the full Tennessee Technological University profile
University Of Maine placed #23 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maine report
Yavapai College
Yavapai College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on Yavapai College
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on Arkansas State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Animal Science Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Mount Olive College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Mount Olive College
Ulster County Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read more about Ulster County Community College
Huntington University placed #28 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full Huntington University report
Dordt College
Dordt College placed #29 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Dordt College
California State University Chico offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on California State University Chico
California State University Fresno ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read more about California State University Fresno
Colby Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Colby Community College report
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on North Carolina A And T State University
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. More on North Iowa Area Community College
Snow College
Snow College placed #35 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read more about Snow College
College Of Western Idaho placed #36 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Western Idaho
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Brigham Young University Idaho report
Johnson And Wales University Providence offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Johnson And Wales University Providence
Langston University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Langston University
Stautzenberger College Maumee placed #40 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read more about Stautzenberger College Maumee
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. See the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities profile
University Of Kentucky ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. More on University Of Kentucky
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. See the full Texas State University San Marcos profile
Tarleton State University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. See the full Tarleton State University profile
University Of Arizona placed #45 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Arizona profile
West Virginia University placed #46 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. See the full West Virginia University profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Linn Benton Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Linn Benton Community College
Stephen F Austin State University placed #49 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full Stephen F Austin State University report
Clarendon College landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Clarendon College report
Related Animal Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Animal Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Animal Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 162 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).